The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) intends to scale up its Digital Conformity Project in 2026, in a bid to curb the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard electrical cables on the Ghanaian market.
The initiative currently in its pilot phase, is designed to empower customers, and as well, enhance regulatory enforcement in ridding the market of unfair competition from counterfeit and substandard electrical products.
The project launched in July this year, is offering industry players an opportunity to learn about the usefulness of a mobile application; the Customer Verification Mobile App [Reveo], deployed.
With this innovation, customers/users can easily verify the authenticity of electrical cables on the market. Products from six local manufacturing companies have been listed for certification, with QR coded tags embossed on them.
Addressing the media on the sidelines of a workshop organized for electrical contractors, suppliers and installers in Takoradi, the Director General of the GSA, Professor George Agyei indicated that feedback from their engagements with industry players will enable them optimize the functionality of the verification system.
“We are still in the design stages, and we are hopeful that by 2026, we should be able to come out to massively implement this technology. So, we are still engaging the designers and suppliers to see how we can address some of the problems we have identified, and improve the system.”
The success of the pilot, according to Prof Agyei will enable the GSA extend the verification mechanism to imported electrical cables. This he emphasized will not only protect the Ghanaian from an influx of substandard and counterfeit products but also guarantee customers of real value for product bought in Ghana.
“We are now piloting with our own products, and then incorporate the imported products later on. So, when you come to our ports, we will have to certify you before you get the products onto the market.
“We are coming to give power to the consumer to be able to determine whether a product meets the standards or otherwise,” Prof Agyei added.
The Western Regional Chairman of the Electrical Contractors Association, Solomon Appiah commended the GSA for the initiative.
He however recommended that the Authority assigns Electrical Engineers to its Regional Directorates to enable electrical contractors seek expert advice on both regulatory and performance related issues.
